SpokenHeard with Jesse Parent and Susan Dobbe Chase

Jesse Parent is a poet, an improviser, a former mixed martial arts fighter, a computer nerd, a husband, a father, and, above all, a human being. According to the results of the 2010 and 2011 Individual World Poetry Slams, he was also the 2nd ranked slam poet in the world.

Jesse entered the world of performance poetry in December 2006 after touring for a few years with the poetry/music/improv show he created called The Hook. He achieved individual successes with 2nd place finishes at the 2010 and 2011 Individual World Poetry Slams as well as a 5th place finish at the 2012 Ontario International Poetry Slam. He has been on the Salt City Slam poetry teams from 2007-2012 (which included 8th place finishes at the 2011 and 2012 National Poetry Slam), was the coach of the 2007, 2008 and 2010 Salt City Slam teams, was the Salt Lake City grand champion in 2008, 2010, and 2011, and is the current slammaster of Salt City Slam. He also sits on the executive council for Poetry Slam, Inc., the national body behind the National Poetry Slam, Individual World Poetry Slam, and Women of the World Poetry Slam.

In his professional life, Jesse is a software engineering manager at a company that provides products and services that help the deaf and hearing to communicate. In his other art life, Jesse performs with Laughing Stock Improv at the Off Broadway Theatre on Main St. in Salt Lake City and tours nationally in the improv duo, JoKyR and Jesster. In his personal life, he has a very tolerant wife and three adorable kids.